By Tami Rougeau
Team Red Adventure 6
One of the big goals for this year was to get back to doing 100s with Makena. After a very minor setback in 2024 we took our time getting things correct. A minor issue kept creeping in so we spent a lot of time with our vet Shane Miller, DVM making a plan and using all the resources we had available including shockwave, PEMF, Red Lights, body work and slow methodical work. The biggest key was changing my hoof management program. We teamed up with a new farrier friend, Bryan Smith, and after many long conversations, review of vet x-rays and opinion he started doing the girls feet for me. It made a huge difference getting her feet to work with her conformation which is not bad but even 1 degree off can make a difference with these athletic horses. No horse is perfect; they all have something that just needs to be managed. So Bryan worked his magic and I put her in EasyCare Inc. Protective Hoofware EasyShoe’s full time. Mostly we use Speeds but at times the terrain has dictated Ones. We glue on our own shoes and use EasyCare HoofLox products exclusively.
2025 was spent working on all of this and slowly bringing Makena along and keeping a close eye on her trimming. She has been doing fantastically at all the rides she has done and is finally getting to really do her thing. We went to Caballo with the intention of giving her a good test and making sure she was really strong and ready to take the next step.
After Caballo I knew she was ready to get back on the 100-mile trail. But which one? There are not very many 100s left so planning for 100s takes some calendar management. I looked at the calendar and there was the Mary and Anna Ride staring back at me. My nemesis ride, my Achilles heel the one that just always wins. I talked to my friends and finally penciled it in. No ink as gremlins love ink and are attracted to it. So, I quietly started to plan. Then my besties Gina Hall and Sheryl Scott announced they would be joining me and crewing for me. Darlene Merlich and Max Merlich gave me great encouragement. Then I get a message from Suzanne Hayes– YES THAT SUZIE HAYES!!! I have known Suzie for a few years and have always just been in awe of her, her horses, her horsemanship and her calm way of mentoring. She asked if I was going to Mary and Anna and if I would be interested in riding with her on the 50 with her newer horse. What about the 100? Oh yes, she would be doing 100 on Ace as well. In my mind the 50 was on Day 1 and the 100 on Day 2. Man was I wrong, it was the other way around. I told her that was crazy I can’t do that! And she says it will be fine; we are going to get done early. WE?? I was going to share trail with Suzie! Dreams come true. I was not sure Makena and I would be able to do it, but we agreed to start out together and let the day play out
Makena could not have been happier! We had a nice easy start and picked up a good trot. It was heaven! I have never maintained that sort of speed for so long. Steady, relaxed and floating down the trail. Makena relaxed and just cruised along with Ace. About halfway around the second loop I felt Makena slowing down and wanting to get back down to her steady 8-9 mph pace. Being worried that something was brewing we told Suzie to carry on. We got into the vet check, and she trotted out fine so I decided we would continue on in our comfort zone. We had such a solid start we had plenty of day to get it all done. For the next 70-ish miles we were all by ourselves. It is way easier on Makena to be on her own so we are not trying to adjust to someone else’s pace if they can’t do her big walk (which we have all decided is some sort of gaited horse thing because it is definitely not just a fast walk)
Makena took great care of herself all day, focusing on eating and drinking. There was plenty of tasty grass on the trail and she took advantage of it. Needless to say she had great gut sounds all day. This trail is just spectacular. It is forest dirt, not really sand, with hardly any rocks. There is also not much in the way of elevation (740 feet I think). The best part is that it is a true 100 and not one inch short. The scenery is something else with volcanic rock formations scattered about, landmarks like Hole in the Ground, Fort Rock and others nearby there is a lot to look at to cover the miles. There is just the right amount of trees to give some shade but not so much that you feel walled in.
At every vet check our amazing crew of Gina and Sheryl were there waiting for us and they worked like the ultimate NASCAR team. I never had to worry about what needed to be done. They were quick with water to cool her off and strip her tack so that we could get pulsed and to the vet quickly. No wasted time. Even with short holds Makena got to use our hold time to eat and rest. The same went for me but I did not do as well in the eating department as she did. I am very much if it is in front of me I will eat it so I usually grab what is in the front of the fridge. Sheryl spent the whole week prior making amazing food for the trip and I really enjoyed it. She is an amazing cook and does everything very healthy.
At the last hold Makena did not want to pulse down and it was very stressful. I was so happy that I had spent so much time getting advice from Suzie the days leading up to the ride. What a blessing to have her all to myself for 2 days. She is such a wealth of knowledge. So we followed her advice and gave more CMPK than usual and that was the trick. Makena pulsed down and we passed the vet check, no problem. I took a few extra minutes to let her eat a bit more and to get ready to head into the last loop with daylight fading quickly. Leaving for the last loop with daylight left was a new treat for us. We left a few minutes late but that was fine with me. Only 10ish miles to go and loads of time to just enjoy the last of this wonderful trail. We had done this loop earlier which is nice to have as a last loop. Horses truly remember where they have been before. Makena knew this was the last loop and set a very nice, relaxed pace covering the miles smoothly. About halfway around the loop we caught up to the riders who had been behind us all day. Since we took a little longer at the hold they had left ahead of us. We waited for a good place to pass and moved on.
Shortly after passing them, we had to go by a large campsite. Probably due to the late hour their dogs were out being dogs. We had no issue but just as we were well past, I heard a commotion and a scream. One of the dogs bolted out and went for one of the horses behind us. We stopped and yelled to see if everyone was OK. Of course, my hearing aides had died so all I could hear was not clear. We waited until we saw they were moving our way and then continued on. One rider did respond to our call out, but I could not hear them clearly so kept asking if they were OK. They must have thought I was crazy to keep asking if they were OK. When I noticed their head lamps moving our way I decided that they were indeed OK. Scary to say the least but all was well, so we moved out.
Before I knew it we were at the finish. Makena pulsed much better and we headed to the vet. To say that my stomach was in a knot is an understatement. We had such a wonderful day, learned so much and grew our partnership…but it was not over and I knew the gremlins were still present. Other riders have shared with me their jinxed rides so I know it happens but I really wanted to break this jinx because I really love this ride and my PNER ride family.
We reported to the veterinarian and did our trot out first. Makena looked great. My dear friend Darlene immediately gave me a hug and said the jinx was broken, LOL, I had to tell her it was not over until the vet said so, I was so stressed. We all stood there as our vet did his job meticulously looking over Makena and making sure she was fit to continue. After what seemed like forever he announced our completion. Not sure he was ready for the celebration of screams, hugs and maybe a tear of joy. I know he was not prepared for the huge hug and thank you he received from me. Always thank your vet but maybe not send them to a chiropractor, LOL.
We took Makena back to the trailer and promptly set to pampering her, washing her legs, brushing and massaging her. Sheryl was a gem again making sure every inch of her was cleaned up, legs iced and wrapped. I think I maybe sort of helped but mostly I remember Sheryl putting a blanket on me as I sat in awe of my amazing partner. Then it was shower and bed as there was a 50-mile ride on our agenda for the next day.
We had conquered the curse of the Mary and Anna 100, but those gremlins were not done with me. When the alarm when off it seemed a little ridiculous, but I was excited to share more trail with Suzie and to get another day with Penelope. I had learned so much the day prior I was excited to learn more and really give Penelope a good challenge playing babysitter to Suzie and her rescue horse. He is huge and so lovely. He and Penelope would be a great team for the day.
I got up and went to light the stove for tea and the next thing I knew Gina was over me calling my name. I had passed out cold standing at the stove. When I tried to get up it happened again. How I went from I feel good to I can’t stand up was confounding. It felt like the trailer was rolling over and over and over again. This was a whole new experience for me.
Suzie came over and told me to get dressed and saddle up. After some serious contemplation we all decided that going out was not in anyone's best interest, especially Penelope’s. Suzie came back over and got a good look at me and agreed, I would not be joining her on this day. I laid back down, drank 3 or 4 electrolyte mixes, ride manager Carol Giles and Darlene checked on me and I just prayed for this horrible feeling to pass and for the trailer to stop rolling. Gina and Sheryl took care of the horses and started getting camp cleaned up.
A little while later I felt good enough to get up and start moving around thanks to some Zofran and all of the electrolytes. Sheryl and Gina headed home, and I continued the clean up with a thought of possibly heading to my parents place a few hours away in John Day. Suzie came in and I helped her out at the vet checks. This is one amazing woman; she did the 100 the day before and now was doing a 50. She always looks fresh and cheery, very focused on taking care of the horse and still being pleasant to everyone around her.
Suzie has been one of the people I admire for many years. Watching and listening from afar she has always been one of those riders that we should all aspire to be. It is not always sunshine and roses with endurance. Sometimes we all must take the hard knocks the trail gremlins throw at us. How we deal with the knocks says a lot about our character. Suzie shared a few stores of her knocks over the years. This is a rider who has done it all, ridden to the highest levels around the world and knows what it takes. Suzie took responsibility for her mistakes with grace and good humor. That is character that is respected and should be emulated. It was a good lesson for me among so many other things I learned on this special weekend.
As I cleaned up and repacked the trailer, doted on the girls and Ace with loads of scratches and treats, I reflected on our 100-mile accomplishment and my failure to rally for the 50. The past 2 years have been spent building a more solid foundation for Makena and I. The strategy has worked. It was not something we came up with on our own. It was built from the advice of many mentors over many years. The same goes for Penelope. Every encounter is a learning experience if you let it. Every day I am in awe of the horses that have carried me to this point. They were all capable of so much more than I was able to ask, they taught me so much and here we are now, thanks to the lessons we learned. I opted for an early to bed and a good nights sleep and left on Monday for John Day to see the folks for a few day. The girls were very happy to get back to green pasture at Berry Creek Ranch. It was really great spending a few relaxing days with Mom and Dad and visiting friends.
Photos are thanks for my wonderful friends Sheryl and Gina who took such good care of us all day. I could not have done this without their support. thanks to the stellar PNER family who puts on a top notch ride. To the vets who were so supportive and kind, Bryan Smith for getting Makena's feet in perfect form; Shane Miller for always keeping my horses going; Stephanie Kniestedt for exceptional body work and Mickey Doyle for wonderful chiropractic care.
So, Mary and Anna Memorial Ride is in the books. We finished 4th overall and 2nd featherweight in about 14-15-ish hours – my fastest 100 time ever!!! Thank you Suzie for making me step up and let Makena do her thing. I learned so much and she was so happy all day. I can’t wait for the next one!
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